Published Monday July 13, 2009
By Kenton Krueger
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Filmmakers often are more comfortable behind the camera than on stage in front of a crowd.

But that is just where Omahan Chris Zech found himself, nervous and a bit awkward, in the fall of 2008 after his short film “The Hit” was shown at the Wild Rose Film Festival in Des Moines.

“It was the first time I got in front of an audience, getting that feel for the whole filmmaker Q&A thing,” he said. “That was a really exciting experience.”

Zech, 32, has been an avid writer for years. Near the end of his college career, he and a friend started making films using Zech's scripts.
Advertising
GET TO KNOW. . .
Chris Zech

Age: 32
Family: Wife Courtney, parents Mike and Diane Zech and brothers Jeremiah and Jake Zech, all of Omaha.
Occupation: Senior resource specialist at TD Ameritrade

Over the next few years he developed as a filmmaker and has seen the completion of three short films: “Hero Alley,” “Random” and “The Hit.” The latter was awarded the Certificate of Distinctive Achievement for editing at the Wild Rose in Des Moines. It also was selected that year for the Estes Park Film Festival in Colorado.

The award, Zech explained, was a significant achievement for the collaborative efforts of so many people who volunteered to help produce the film — especially the film's editor, Johnnie Travis. The free help is necessary, he said, because he is working on these projects in his spare time with what he refers to as “no budget.”

Zech estimates that “The Hit” — at just 16 minutes — would have cost between $30,000 and $40,000 to produce. But thanks to efforts by local film talent — including Travis, director Marc Longbrake and producer Craig Ladwig and his crew — the film was finished for under $500.

“You have to find other people like-minded,” Zech said. “Until we can actually get to a level where we can command the right amount of budget, we are reliant on the help of others.”

Working in a collaborative environment has given Zech an appreciation for the talent in Omaha. His desire is to put together projects that are showpieces for the talent and collaboration in the Omaha arts community.

Up next is a change of pace for Zech. He and a group of local artists, photographers and models are working to produce a photographic comic book that they hope will also become a series of webisodes, and ultimately a gallery exhibit.

Contact the writer:

444-1264, kenton.krueger@owh.com